Liquid dispensing nozzle



May 11, 1943. F. B. EILERS EIAL LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE Filed March 18, 1939 mm a r m m Wow m Wm m 7 ZW U M 6% I Z 3. Mw/ 4 H 1 MD a 6 g H J4 Z Patented May 11, 1943 LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE Frank B. Eilers and Forrest J. Graef, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignors to Tokheim Oil Tank and Pump Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application March 18, 1939, Serial N0. 262,596

1 Claim.

This invention relates to nozzle constructions for motor fuel dispensing equipment.

At the present time, motor fuel is dispensed from equipment generally consisting of a reser- I voir adapted to hold a relatively large quantity of fuel such as gasoline, from which the fuel is drawn by means such as a service station pump comprising a dispensing line which includes a motor driven pump, a meter, and a flexible hose terminating generally in a nozzle having a flow controlling valve. When the valve of the nozzle is open, the pump causes the fuel to flow through the dispensing line, through the meter, through the flexible hose and out of the nozzle into the tank to be filled. These modern nozzles generally include two valves, one a hand-operated valve normally spring pressed to closed position and adapted to be opened to provide full delivery or slow delivery. This valve controls the dispensing flow. In addition, each nozzle generally has a second valve, normally spring pressed to closed position but which spring is adapted to be opened by the normal forcing pressure of the pump when the main flow control valve is manually opened. This latter valve is utilized to prevent draining of th flexible hose and nozzle when the pump has stopped. It is referred to generally as a non-drain valve or bleeder valve.

The present invention in certain of its aspects is concerned with the construction of the main flow control valve, the one which is manually operable. One of the features of the invention is concerned with a novel construction of such valve wherein the valve is formed as a flat disk or rather wherein such valve has a flat wall portion, adapted to seat against an annular seat of relatively narrow proportions and preferably semicircular in cross section so that the valve makes closing contact against an annular, relatively narrow cross sectional area. The flat wall portion of the valve is formed of yieldable material whereby to form a more perfect sealing contact. This yieldable material may comprise a synthetic rubber-like composition, such as 'I'lnokol," which is not affected by gasoline. This rubber-like composition has greater durapressure above the valve impresses the foreign matter into the rubber surface. After a time this accumulation of foreign matter causes the valve to leak when not in use.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a nozzle for dispensing purposes utilizing a flat disk orlilat surface formed of flexible material, such as rubber-like composition, adapted to seat against an annular seat of restricted cross sectional area and wherein the valve seat is constructed and arranged so that no accumulation of foreign matter can occur during slow flow; to provide a seat construction for such a valve wherein means is provided for conducting away from the valve seat any foreign matter present and/or for flushing such foreign matter away when the valve is opened for full delivery; to provide in connection with a valve having a flat, yieldable seat-contacting portion adapted to close against an annular seat to effect a complete seal against its seat, a metallic throttling valve associated with such first mentioned valve and adapted to seat against a metallic seat for providing a throttled or restricted flow as when the valve is only slightly opened; to provide in combination with a main valve controlling full delivery and providing a flexible flat wall portion adapted to seat against a metallic annular seat, a throttling valve of metal adapted to close against a metallic seat, and wherein when the throttling valve is opened for restricted delivery, the main valve composed of yieldable material will be spaced substantially remote from the restricted flow controlling passage formed by the throttling valve and its seat whereby the main valve is not only removed from the vicinity of the restricted flow and the possibility than cork. However, it has been found that when using a yieldable material when the valve is slightly opened for slow or restricted delivery, there is a tendency for any foreign matter, dirt or the like, which is present in the fuel, to'lodge on the surface of the valve seat, and the affinity of the synthetic rubber composition tends to hold the foreign matter until the valve is lowered upon its seat, whereupon the spring bility of accumulating foreign matter thereon but also whereby a metal to metal contacting valve is utilized for the restricted delivery operation. Other and further objects of the invention as will be evident from an inspection of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved nozzle;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the valve and its seat, showing various positions of the valve.

Referring now to the invention in detail, for purposes of exempliflcation the nozzle is shown as attached to the conventional service station motor fuel dispensing pump wherein the dispensing line is connected to the usual fuel reservoir and also connected to the usual type of motor driven pump for forcing the liquid through the meter and thence through the flexible tube, the end of which connects with the nozzle having the construction shown in the drawing. This flexible hose is attached to the nozzle body I.

The nozzle body is provided with a detachable lever guard 2. Thejoody is preferably cast metal and is machined to accommodate the various parts. The detachable lever guard supports a pin 3 projecting through a slot 4 of a valve lever 5 for manual operation of the valve stem 6 of the main flow controlling valve. The stem 6 passes through a conventional type of packing gland 1. The upper end of the valve stem telescopes within a bore of a throttling skirt 8 of the main flow control valve. The throttling skirt is provided with an upwardly extending core 9 which is preferably threaded to receive a nut l0 which clamps the main valve body Ii against a shoulder on the skirt 8.

The main flow control valve H. is shown as a disk valve comprising a metal backing washer I2, a washer of sealing yieldable material and a metal retaining washer 39. The material of the sealing washer 13 may be as desired but preferably it is a synthetic rubber-like material known as Thiokol which is impervious to gasoline. This washer makes a sealing contact with the main valve seat 40 which is of preferably semicircular cross section or of such cross section to provide a substantially narrow, restricted annular contact with the yieldable fiat face of the main valve.

The body of the nozzle at the main valve seat is provided with an inwardly extending ring 4| providing a concentrically located throat providing a throttling port 42. This throttling port or throat 42 is formed as a true cylinder. The extension skirt 8 is provided with a corresponding cylindrical surface 43 adapted to be positioned concentrically within the throttling throat to provide an adjustably controlled throttle for the slow flow or restricted delivery of the liquid or motor fuel. The surface 43 of the throttling skirt is machined to between one and one-half and three one-thousandths of an inch smaller indiameter than its cooperating throat cylindrical surface 42. Preferably, below this cylindrical surface 43, the skirt is formed conically in shape so as to facilitate passage of the liquid during throttled or restricted flow.

The main valve and the throttling valve are arranged in spaced apart relation so that when the throttling valve is in operation and the liquid is restrictedly flowing therethrough, the main valve will be positioned relatively remote from the throat of the throttling valve through which the slow flow is taking place. By this arrangement any tendency of foreign matter to accumulate at; the throttling seat and/or to back up around that portion of the main valve seat against which the yieldable face of the main valve contacts is eliminated, and inasmuch as the throttling passage is entirely metallic no possibility is present that such accumulated foreign matter or dirt can be impressed into the face of the throttling valve.

In addition, the valve structure is provided with means for preventing leakage of the main valve due to the impressing of foreign matter into the face of the yieldable material thereof. To accomplish this, the wall structure adjacent the valve is provided with relieved portions into which any foreign matter may wash during delivery and these relieved portions are disposed or sealing face of the main valve so as to preclude any possible impressing of the accumula-.

tion into the face of the rubber-like sealing material when the main valve closes against its metallic seat. To this end, the part of the nozzle body wall between the main valve seat and the throttling throat is relieved as at 4|. In addition; the wall portion of the main valve and the throttle valve skirt is relieved as at 44 whereby to provide the annular channel, pocket or space 45 into which dirt and foreign matter tending to accumulate during slow flow will be deposited. and from which pocket such accumulation will be washed out during full delivery.

The body of the main valve l I is provided with a bore disposed substantially parallel to its axis, in which is located a one-way valve, herein shown as a ball valve l4, and its spring i5 which constantly urges the valve onto its seat but which spring gives when the main valve is manually opened from its scat. This yielding of the valve spring I5 is due to the pressure of the liquid in the dash-pot hereinafter described. An inlet passage IE to said bore leads to the inside of the dash-pot while an outlet opening I1 is shown as connecting the bore with the nozzle passage through which liquid flow takes place and at the liquid flow pressure of the pump.

A dash-pot is provided for the main valve to prevent too quick closing of this valve under the action of its spring whereby to stop dispensing flow. The valve body ll has a sliding fit with a cylinder l8. Compressed within the cylinder between the valve body H and the upper closed end of the cylinder i8 is a compression spring IQ for closing the main valve when pressure is released on the valve lever 5. At the closed end of the cylinder I8 is located a small constantly open orifice 20 which functions to by-pass liquid into or out of the cylinder l8.

Means is provided for adjustably centering the cylinder with respect to the main valve whereby to prevent binding of the valve with respect to the cylinder, for sealing the closed end of the cylinder from the pressure within the nozzle, and for spacing the cylinder away from the body of'the nozzle and the nozzle cap. To this end the nozzle body is threaded as at 22 and to these threads is secured the nozzle cap 2|. The cap 2| has in its upper end a short bore 23 for guiding aboss 24 which is concentrically disposed as an integral part of the cylinder l8. In addition, an annular ridge or ring 25, substantially V- shaped in cross section, is disposed on the cap 2! for impressing into sealing material 26 under the action of the valve spring l9 and thereby sealing off the chamber 21 formed in the end of the cap, from the rest of the nozzle delivery chamber. This construction prevents the pressure within the nozzle due to the force of the liquid pumping means from acting upon the end of the cylinder 18.

The nozzle is provided with a non-drain or bleeder valve which is disposed in the flow chanremote or relatively remote from the yieldable nel on the discharge side of the main and throttle valves. As shown, the non-drain valve 28 is adapted to seat against the direction of flow of the dispensing liquid. This non-drain valve is arranged to preclude the opening of the main valve and draining of the hose when the pump is not operating. The valve 28 and its support ing spring 33 are assembled before the nozzle tube 29 is screwed into place. The valve 28 is first inserted in its operative position by sliding its stem 34 into the guiding lug 35 forming a part smaller end coiled about thtn of the nozzle body. The last coil 36 of the spring 7 33 of the non-drain valve is formed relatively larger in its free state than it isin its assenrbl ed position. The spring is positioned with ,its

which w ihe rin'eji e as ed i i ii a H threaded portion of the nozzle bo dy pIQpe its containing chamberlwhere it, isthen allowed to expand [and v is thereby, mel nted from 'pushing out by the small shoulder. in .the nozzle body I. The free endof thdblifl .PIQldes,. alooped handle to permit of the .twisting -action and when the spring is properly positioned this loop or end 31 of the spring extends outwardly of the end of the nozzle body I where it can be used to remove the spring when desired.

Means is provided for securing the customary nozzle tube 29 to the nozzle body I. This tube 29 and the body I are threaded together and, in addition, a lock nut 30 having conically'shaped external wall 3| .is provided for wedgingly engaging within the cooperative conical wall 32 of the nozzle body I. Hence, with this construction the curved nozzle tube 29 can be screwed into the nozzle body to the proper distance and then the nut 30 can be tightened to lock the nozzle in such set position without disturbingthe predetermined relation of the curve in the nozzle tube 29 with respect to the nozzle body I.

The operating lever for the nozzle valve has a bearing pad 46' of special wearing material which makes contact with the stem 6 when the lever is manually raised. The two fulcrum points are pin 3 and upwardly turned boss 46 formed integral with the nozzle body and located within the lever guard 2. These fulcra are located so that upon upward movement of the lever 5 it first fulcrums onipin 3 thereby giving a short leverage and raising stem 6 which in turn raises the main valve assembly. When the lever B and stem 6 have raised the main valve-to that position shown in solid linesin Fig. 3, the extended end 48 of the lever 5 has just made contact with the boss 46 and the two cylindrical surfaces 42 and 43 of the main valve are just separating. Any further movement of lever 5 causes increased delivery through the valve passage 42 and longer leverage by fulcruming on boss 46. The slot 4 will just pass idly by the pin will be in position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, giving maximum area for liquid flow.

tion that there is provided a clearance space, as

at 45, for foreign matter to wash into and later to be washed out, thereby never packing it between the main valve seat, the sealing disk of yieldable material, and the throttling valve skirt. Also, by forming both the surfaces 42 of the throttling throat and the surface 43 of the throttling valve cylindrical and closely fitted there is obtained even at slow delivery a construction requiring the valve to be raised to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3. This construction maintains the throttling action beivveen the two metal surfaces 42 and 43. The synthetic rubber disk I3 i entirely clear of its seat 40 so,

as not to detain any foreign matter in position to later be pressed into it when the disk closes a ainst its seat. v

It. w11,1;-;be,. ;ur h n xa nre iatedethat iwitlirthe flbeda qnstm ion on dashwvoteaz' smoother ctingyalve i s-provided; .;In;prior nozz1es:notzine 3. When the lever 5 and stem 6 are raised to I their highest positions, the main dispensing valve .would;zenera lrb dwt e -.nozz1e :wi'dczonen iuntil thetank was, ull;o h e dcliyeredkqtheidee.

e w ereu on "gh e-would inever wou d athe. Pr s ured ithe dition tqithe tom t "e dash-pot construction herein disclosed, it was diiflcult to hold the valve only slightly open for the pressure built up on top of the valve and caused a hammering or pounding action. These undesirable features have been overcome in the present construction wherein normally when the nozzle valve is in closed position as that shown in Fig. 2, the ball valve 14 is held against its seat by the spring I5 and the pressure within the cylinder I8 is balanced or equal with that within the nozzle body I because of the small, constantly open orifice 20 which allows equalized pressure. Upon opening the main valve by the lever 5. liquid in the cylinder I8 is displaced, some passing out through the small orifice 20 by most passing through the port controlledby the ball valve l4 due to the fact that this ofiers least resistance to a quick displacement of a volume of liquid. The spring I 9 will be compressed but that is practically all the resistance encountered in opening the valve. e The clearance maintained between the inner wall of the cylinder l8 and the valve body II is between one and one-half and three one-thousandths of an inch on the diameters and therefore practically no liquid will by-pass here. The

main valve may be 'pened to the position shojm v in dotted lines in Fig. 3 but irrespective of the position to which it is opened, when the lever 5 is quickly released the spring tends to force the valve assembly down and acts as a piston in the cylinder l8. Upon quick'downward movement of the valve, vacuum is incurred within the cylinder because the liquid can not pass by the ball valve l4 into the cylinder and because the small orifice 2D is only thirty-seven one-thousandths of an inch in diameter and therefore prevents a quick inlet of liquid. Therefore, a cushioning action is eflfected on the valve, .preventing it from snapping shut instantaneously, thereby giving the liquid in the hose and system a chance to slow down more gradually'and' prebetween the valve and the cylinder is eliminated.

The advantage or this lies in the fact that ndzzles become abused.'many times being dropped on the concrete driveway and consequently the without th bodies become dented. If the cylinder were.a part of the body I or can 2| and these latter became dented or distorted in the slightest way, the valve body ll would bind and the nozzle would become inoperative. No such action can take place with the present construction.

Instead of bolting or threading the cylinder it within the cap 2|, which would require that all parts be extremely accurately machined to insure that the valve body ll would not bind in the cylinder it due to misalignment, the method or assembly heretofore described is utilized whereby these parts are free to adjust portion forming a main valve seat and an annular portion forming a throttling valve seat spaced .from the main valve seat in a direction toward the outlet passage, and a valve member movable to open position toward the inlet side of the valve, said valve member being formed of two P rts. one 01 which has an annular metallic portion adapted for cooperation with said throttlin valve seat, a disc of resilient material clamped between said valve member parts and adapted to be brought on movement of the valve member into engagement with the main valve seat, and a pair of metallic washers interposed, respectively, between the disc and the valve member parts, one of said washers covering only a portion of the disc surface whereby to permit contact between the disc and the main valve seat.

FRANK B. EILERS. FORREST J. GRAEF. 

